In today's modern society, electronic word processing, the Internet, and social media have given rise to a proliferation of constant, instantaneous publishing. As anyone can publish their works on a digital platform from nearly anywhere in the world, the role of the author function must be reconsidered.
Foucault considers the author to serve as a function by which to associate any writings of a similar style. This function can also impede interpretation, as the author's aura will seem to surpass the text itself and render it to be viewed with a sort of bias. Therefore, in order for a text to be truly free and open for discourse, the author must not be associated with it. However, a text can not exist without the author. Due to the the exponential advancement of technology, more people than ever are writing and publishing new pieces every day. Does this rise in writing lead to a rise in authorship? Or is the opposite true?
According to Foucault, the to be considered a true author, some epistemology must be considered. An authored work requires a body of effort put into it, such as research, drafts, development, and notes. Foucault also limits the author function to that of mostly rhetorical and literary fields, citing a private letter as not being truly authored. Is this restriction limited to just physically published works? Certainly not, as the very writers on this blog could be considered authors by Foucault's standards.
To state that an author serves as a function to inhibit the free interpretation of a text is false. In a sense, the opposite is true: the author serves to aid the identity of a text. The plays of Tennessee Williams are regarded as being great because of Williams's eccentrically charming style. The author is just as much a part of the text as the words, plot, and characters. In today's world, millions of people are learning to develop their own writing style, and could-and should-be considered authors.
-Max C.
I agree that the increase and availability of publishing online is great for literature and society in general but I think it may be a stretch to consider all of them authors. In the most simplistic sense of the word sure, they wrote words on a page they're the author. However like you mentioned, Focault said that authorship implies some sort of epistemology. I would have to agree with him that authorship implies more than just writing on a page. I personally don't see myself as an "author" even though I've been writing words since Kindergarden.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Peter, above, about all that write not being true authors. Every single one of us write. Bio majors write papers, Psychology majors write papers, some of these people even post the occasional response to a blog on the Internet. I wouldn't say this makes them authors. I think the increase and availability of publishing has lessened the authority of an author. It gives whoever has a computer and a post on the Internet the notion that they are authors, writers, journalists and so forth. I cannot let myself believe this because then I believe I would have to ask myself, why am I studying to be an author? If there are techniques to be learned and practiced, how is it that someone blogging about "High School Girl Problems" (or some other equivalent) can be considered an "author?"
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